Lining apparatus.



H. H. HANCOCK.

LINING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION EILED MAR. 5, 1918. A 1,297,840. Patented Mar. 18,1919.

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LINING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. 5. I9I8.

Patented Mar. 18,1919.

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41h ATTORNEYS,

Umm STAT HARRY H. HANCOCK, 'OF SWAMPSCOTT, MA

ssAcHUsETTs, assigner, or ,ONE-HALF To ARTHUR s. WEBSTER, ory HALIFAXyMAssAcHUsETTs.

LINING1 'Arrnna'rusi To all Iwhom it may concern.' .y

Be it known that I, HARRY H. HANCOCK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Swampscott, county of Essex, and State of Massachusetts, have invented certainv new. and useful Improvements inLining Apparatus, of whichthe follovvingis a clear, full, and exact description. A i This invention relates -to lining apparatus, and resides vin certain improvements upon the construction shown, described and claimed in my. cro-pending applicationffor patent on lining apparatus, led J an. v2O, 1916, Ser. No. 73,133. More specifically, the improvements herein disclosed are for use in connection With machines for lining-up in printing plants, with a view to obtaining speed and accuracy inthe method of lining up. One of the objects of the present invention isr to perform the operation of lining up under actual printing conditions with the elimination of all waiting time of the press for nal corrective moves. Other objects of theinvention are to provide improved f means for pressing and smoothing out a sheet which is imposed upon the sheet receiving surface; to provide irnproved gages for accurately dening the position of the edges of thesheet to be lined up; to provide an `improved construction of marker; and toy improve machines of this class generally. l. y

With these and other objects 'in view, my invention consists of certain features of construction and combinations offpartstobe hereinafter described and thenclaimed with reference Lyto. the yaccompanying drawings 'illustrating a desirable embodiment ofthe v invention, in which-s-r f Figure 1 is a: plan viewof themachine, showing a sheet that has been ruledor lined up; i v y Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section on the line2-2 Fig. 1, showing one of the carf riages, a marker and concomitant parts in;y side elevation; y

Fig. 3 is a broken rdetail sectional view of one end of one` of the papery 'smoothing `or pressing members; ,f f

Fig. 4 is asectional ,side'elevationfshowf ingfone of the gages and manner of mountingthe same in position Fig. 5 kis a plan `:View of the same parts;

Fig.6 isa broken plan view-ofoneoftheV marker arms or shafts; f 2

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented fMar. 18, 1919.

' y Applicationfneamrchs,191s.- 'seriamaazoaea y Fig.;7 is a transverse section thereof;

Fig. 8 is a side elevation of one of the improved markers; Y

Fig. 9 is a topl view of the same;

'Fig 10 is an enlarged sectional detail of one of the markers taken in a plane between the side faces of the marker;

' Fig. 11 is a section on line 11-11, Fig. 10; and i Fig. 12 is a transverse section through the collar of the marker.

Thek present improvements more specilically relate to such a machine as shown in the aforesaid application, although it will be obvious that the improvements can be used in machines generally of the same general class; and inV connection with machines of the specific class, I prefer to use miniature lay-,out sheets or charts constituting a layout on which the paged dimension, etc., can be placed so that .the compositor can see at a glance the type measure-to set the type; the make-up man the length to make the pages; thestone man the exact number of picas to place in the margins and gutters; the pressman the margin for both gripper and side gages of the /press, and the line-up man can line up the sheets either before or after goin@V to press.

2leferring to the drawings, (Fig. 1), the frame 12 is provided with a sheet imposing plate or table surface 13 having a relatively soft covering 11 preferably of canvas, which isV stretched taut over the said plate and constitutes an imposing surface for the sheet to be lined up. The said fabric covering 14 may be secured in any, suitable manner so as to stretch it tightly Lover the upper surface of the plate. At adjacent sides of the frame 12 are guide rails 15, 16, which are secured at right angles to each other by mounting the adjacent ends of said rails in an angle stanchion 17 provided with suitable sockets to receive the ends of said rails, .while the other ends of said rails are mounted in stanchions 18 and 19, said stanchions being secured to the frame. Adapted to slide on guide rail 15 is a carriage 20, while another carriage 21 slides on the other guide rail 16, said carriagesbeing provided with operating handles 22, 23 respectively. Markery arms 24, 25 are swiveled at one end in corresponding carriages 20, 21, so that they may be rocked on said carriages'by the manipulation of said handles, in the manner substantially as shown in the aforesaid application. Said arms Will eXtend at right angles to each other over the sheet imposing plate 13, and their outer ends are provided yvith guide rollers 2G and 27 Which travel upon said plate When the arms are shifted upon the guide rails.

These arms 2st, 25 constitute supports for gangs of markers 23 and Q9 respectively, said markers being adapted to be set to desired position upon said arms. At the inner ends of the arms 2, 25, brackets 30 are mounted, and these brackets are longer than other brackets 31 ivhich are mounted at the other ends of said marker arms. Said brackets are adapted to support sheet presser or smoothing members, to which end a bar 32 rigidly connects the said brackets of each marker arm. The brackets 30 being longer than the brackets 31, the said bar 32 Will be arranged at an inclination to the arm on vvhich it is mounted, and ivill be positioned in advance of the markers during the marking operation, so that said bar Will extend in substantially the same direction as the held edge of the. sheet to be lined, as Will appear hereinafter. ldounted upon the ends of each bar 32 are sleeves 3l, 3a, said sleeves being loose with respect to the bar and having a slight movement on radial pins 35 on the bar, which pins project through holes in the sleeves. As said pins project upivardly, the sleeves and 34e are permitted a slight up and down movement relatively to the bar on which they are mounted, but said sleeves do not contact With the surface over Which they run. Long helical springsl 3G, 3T are mounted one on each bar 32, and the ends of the outer convolutions of said springs are engaged in said sleeves, and they may also have a friction fit over the adjacentends of the sleeves.

The said helical springs 35, 36 constitute presser or smoothing members which are adapted to travel in contact With the upper surface of the sheet imposed on the sheet imposing plate, and assuming that the sheet is held at tivo adjacent edges and that the markers and said presser members move in a direction avvay from the said secured edges, the inclination of each presser member is such that there is a tendency to smooth out the sheet in a direction tovvard the free corner. T he loose convolutions of the helical presser springs ride easily over the sur face of the sheet Without any tendency to injure the same, and the flexibility or resili ency of the springs has a tendency to draiv the sheet in a direction aivay from both of the secured edges thereof and in advance of the markers Q4, 25, so that a definite position of said sheet ivith respect to said markers is assured, and the free convolutions of the helical presser members Will yield to any unevennesses should any be present .in the reef/,seo

supporting surface for the sheet. As the marker arms are sWiveled on their carriages, the same may be rocked so as to raise the markers and the. flexible presser members off' the sheet When the marking has been completed, so that the marker arm and the parts supported thereby may be returned to their former position Without contact With the sheet. Ordinarily the sheet Would be removed before the markers are returned for another operation.

The sheets which are to be lined up or marked have their edges cut true as nearly as possible so that adjacent edges are at right angles to each other, eac-h sheet being at least substantially rectangular. This being the case, the sheet to be lined may be gaged upon the sheet imposing surface so that the lining up Will be true and accurate. To gage the sheet, gages 38, 39, and 41-0 are employed, although the number may of course be as many as required. Preferably tivo gages 38 and 39 are arranged for the gaging the feeding edge of the sheet, While one gage 40 only is necessary for the other edge, Which tivo edges are eventually secured in position by clamps 4:6. To enable the gages to be adjusted longitudinally of the edges of the sheet and to properly hold the gages in position relatively to said edges, grooves l2 and 43 are provided in the frame 1:2, said grooves extending at right angles to each other and parallel with the guide rails 15 and 16. The construction of the grooves is shoavn clearly in Figs. 4 and 5, and it Will be seen from these figures that the outer Wall L4 of each groove is inclined, the said Wall slanting outivardly avvay from the bottom of the groove. The faces Ll5 of the gages are correspondingly inclined and said gages are of a size' to fit in the grooves, so that in placing a gage in its groove the inclined faces 4:4 and L15 coact to set and adjust the gaging face dat@ of the gage to a definite position, so that an edge of the sheet may be abutted against the definitely located gaging face, and when all the gages have been properly set and the adjacent edges of a sheet abutted against the gaging faces of the gages, said sheet Will be properly positioned for lining up. Above the face 44a of each gage is a pair of fingers or projections 45a, 45", which are spaced apart by the recess 45C, sothat the edge of the sheet can be viewed between the said projections and it can be ascertained Whether' or not the edge of the sheet has been properly adjusted against the gaging face of the gage. Each gage also has a knurled 'finger piece 4:0 to enable it to be easily handled.

Each marker arm 24, 2:, is preferably graduated, the graduations being preferably spaced pica length apart. ln addition to these graduations, each marker arm is preferably specially constructed for obtaining a iio ' each arm', as wellas along it withy reference to pica lengths. To this end each*y marker arm is provided with,y parallel 'grooves 47, 48, as shown in Figs. 6Kand 7 said'grooves being separatedfby an" angle ofr about 60", so that one of said grooves willV be. at the top of each arm kwhile the other will be at the side of it. Groove 47 is intersccted by trans verse nicksor grooves 49, 49a which are associated with the graduations and arespaced at regular intervals apart, preferably corresponding to half pica lengths. The said construction of each'marker arm is adapted more particularly for holding and adjusting the improved construction of markers.

The markers are morek clearly shown in Figs.k 8 to 1Q, inclusive, and yeach lmarker comprises a collar 50having ,a shank 51', the opposite side'v faces of said shank being set slightly in from the opposite faces of the cols collar.

lar,- andthe faces of the collar and of said shank will be parallel with each other. The face of each collar preferablyconstitutes an index member for setting the marker to a definite position on the marker arm. s A toothed marker wheel is positionedupon the end of the shank opposite the collar and is mounted so that it may rotate, and is also yieldingly supported as in the manner shown and described in the aforesaid application. Also as ldescribed in ysaid application, veach marker wheel canlhave any one of four positions upon the shank, and Fig. 9 shows the marker wheel in one of said positions, that is to say, the wheelfis yso set that its'niarking edge will turn in4 a plane coincident with the yplane of one face of the collar 50. The apertures of the collars of the markers are of such size as toenable the same to easily slideover and turn around the marker arm when the markers are shifted for changing their position. y

` Means are providedon each marker for setting the same relativelyy to the grooves 47,

48, in the marker arm and to the nicks 49.

To this end each marker is provided with a lug 53 on the endofa headed lockingpin 54 which is guided in a hole 55 in the bushing 56 which `is, screwed into the collar.

lSaid bushing is screwed finto Qa socket 57 which contains'an expansion spring 58 arranged-around the lockingpin 54 and bearing upon the head thereof with a tendency to force the lookin lug into the aperture ofthe A knur ed nut 59 is ,screwed on to the outer endv'of the locking pin 54 to provide means for holding said pinyin position on the collar and to provide means for manually manipulating said locking pin'.` yThe function of the locking lug 53 is to engage in one. of the grooves 47 48 ofy the ymarker arm so that each marker maybe adjusted to differentV positions about said arm. When the locking lug of a marker is set in the upthe machine.

inner end 65 of lever "thereby locking the marker y angle of 60o by manual manipulation of each marker. This is accomplished by taking hold of the milled nut 59 and pullingthe locking lug 53 out of the upper groove of the marker arm and rotating the marker through an angle of 60 until its locking lug registers with the side groove on the marker arm, whereupon the hold on the nut 59 is released and the spring 58 will automatically engage the locking lug 53 with the side groove.

For coperation with vthe graduated nicks 49,49a on each marker arm, each marker is provided with an operating lever 60 which is pivoted at 61 in a slot 62, so as to swing in a plane intermediate of the side or index faces of the collar, 'said lever being provided atv its outer 'end with an operating button'or knob 62, which is located away fromone edge of the collar in convenient engaged by the 4operator of The inner end of the lever 60 projects into the aperture of the collar 50 and engages in a slot 64, which extends through the lug and head of the locking pin 54, sothat the said end 'of said lever may be engaged by the expansion spring 58. 1t will be seen that the expansion spring 58 serves two purposes. It acts not only to move the locking lug 53 to engage it with -one ofthe grooves of the marker arm, but it acts'upon the operating lever 60. Inasmuch as the inner end 65 of the lever 60 will thus be positioned so as to extend transversely of the marker shaft, said end will be forced the spring 58 into engagement position to be shaft. vWhen each marker is moved to a the marker arm, the 60' establishes a locking engagement with the proper nick 49, against lateral movement. If the marker is to be then shifted along the marker arm to another position, the o-perator of the machine presses upon the button 62, thereby disengaging the locking end 65 of the lever from the nick which it engages, and the operator then shifts the marker along the arm until the desired position is obtained, when the button 62- isr released and the end 65 of the levr automatically engages with the proper mc Y given v position upon Cai Preferably the marker construction comprises a collar, as 50, which has its greater dimension diametrically thereof, With its marker proper located and operating in the plane of said greater, diametrical, dimension, and being disposed entirely to one side of the marker arms, 24 and 25, and with spring-actuated locking means on said collar located and operating in the plane of the greater diametrical dimension of the collar, so t-hat such means are parallel With and closely approximate the plane of the niarking Wheel or marker propel'.

From the above it Will be understood that When the parts of the machine have been adjusted in readiness for operation, a sheet. 66 to be lined is imposed on the plate 13 and tivo of its adjacent edges set to coincide with thc inner faces of the gages 38, 39, and e0, said being movable to any desired position. ,Vhen the sheet has been gaged, the clamps 46 are operated to clamp the gaged edges of the sheet, so thatl the sheet is held by its tivo adjacent edges, the other edges being free, leaving` a free corner. The marker arms are nowv operated by causing them to travel across the sheet one at a. time, and in so traveling the yielding presser or smoothing members act to draw the sheet or smooth it out toward the free corner thereof or on the bias with respect to either secured edge of the sheet.

Obviously the invention is susceptible of a Wide range of modification Without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as claimed.

That 1 claim as new is l. In apparatus of the class described, the combination With means for holding' a sheet at one of its edges, of traveling` means adapted to be moved relatively to said sheet, and a flexible smoothing,I member mounted on said traveling means and extending for a considerable distance in the same general direction as said held edge, said member being adapted to press along` that surface of said sheet which is presented toivard it.

2. 1n apparatus of the class described, the combination With means for holding a sheet at tivo adjacent edges, of separate traveling means adapted to be moved relatively to said sheet, and a flexible smoothingmember mounted on each of said traveling means and extending for a considerable distance in the same general direction as said held edges, said members being adapted to press along that surface of said sheet which is presented toward them.

3. 1n apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for holding a sheet at one of its edges, of traveling means adapted to be moved relatively to said sheet, and a flexible smoothing member mounted on said traveling means and extendingfor a considerable distance at an inclination to Leanser-o said held edge, said member being adapted to press along' that surface of said sheet vvhich is presented toward it.

i. 1n apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for holding a sheet at one of its edges, of traveling means adapted to be moved relatively to said sheet, and a flexible smoothing' member comprising a helically coiled spring loosely mounted on said traveling means and extending for a considerable distance in the same general direction as said held edge, the convolutions of said member being adapted to press along that surface of said sheet which is presented tovvard it.

5. 1n apparatus of the class described, the combination with means for holding a sheet at one Aof its edges, of traveling means adapted to be moved relatively to said sheet, a bar carried by said traveling means and eX- l n a tending 1n the same general direction as said held edge, and a flexible smoothing' member mounted on said bar and adapted to be moved along and in contact With said sheet.

G. In apparatus of the class described, the combination With means for holding a sheet at one of its edges, of traveling means adapted to be moved'relatively to said sheet, a 'bar carried by said traveling means and extending at an incline to said held edge, and a. flexible smoothing member mounted on said bar and adapted to be moved along and in contact With said sheet.

7. In apparatus of the class described, the combination With means for holding a sheet at one of its edges, of traveling means adapted to -be moved relatively to said sheet, a bar carried by said traveling means and extending in the same general direction as said held edge, and a helically coiled spring loosely mounted on said vbar and adapted to be moved along and in contact With said sheet to smooth it out.

8. 1n apparatus of the class described, the combination with a sheet imposing surface, of traveling means adapted `to be moved substantially parallel With said surface, a flexible member, and means for loosely supporting said member on said traveling means, ivhereby said member is adapted to rest by gravity on a sheet imposed on said surface.

9. 1n apparatus of the class described, the combination With a sheet imposing surface, of traveling means adapted to be moved substantially parallel with said surface, a. flexible member consisting' of a helically coiled spring, and means for loosely supporting said member on said `traveling means, Whereby said member is adapted to rest by gravity on a. sheet imposed on said surface.

10. In apparatus of the class described, the combination With a. sheet-imposing surface and means for gripping one edge of a sheet to said surface, of traveling means adapted to be moved at right angles to said edge and substantially parallel with said surface,: a flexible; member, and means for loosely supporting said member onsaid traveling means, wherebyy said member is adapted to rest bygravity 'on sheet imposed on said surface, said member being inclined to the line of `travel of said traveling means.- f

11. 4In apparatus of the Vclass described,

" the combination with a sheet imposing plate,

from the other of said edges, a

traveling means adaptedto be moved'relative-ly to said plate, and a sheet marker carried by said travelingmeans, of a 4flexible smoothing member arranged inadvance of said marker and adapted to smooth'out a sheet on said plate as ksaid markervprog'resses over it.

12. In apparatus of the' class described,

the `combination with a sheet imposing plate,-

means'for holding a substantially rectangular sheet thereon at two adj-acentedgesof said sheet so as to leave one corner free, means adapted to travel away from one of said edges, means adapted to travel away from the'other of said edges, andmeans operated by said traveling means for smoothing out a sheet in a direction inclined from one of the other two remaining edges toward the other of said remaining edges, whereby there is a tendencyY to smooth said sheet out in al direction toward'its free con ner.

13. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a sheet imposing plate,

means for holding a substantially rectangular sheet thereon at two adjacent edges of said sheet so as to leave one corner free,

means adapted tokr travelA away from one of said edges, means .adapted to'travel away marker carried by each ofsaid traveling means, and means operated by said ytraveling means 'for smoothing out a sheet in a direction inclined from one ofthe other two remaining edges` toward the other of said remaining edges, each ,of said markers beingpositioned back of its corresponding smoothing out means,

whereby there is a tendency to'L smooth said sheet out in advance of each marker but in a Vdirection toward its freey corner.

14. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a sheet imposing plate, means for holding twov adjacent edges of a substantially rectangular sheet `imposed on said plate, so as to leave a free corner, and means for smoothing out said sheetin a direction inclined to either of said edges but toward said free corner.

15. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of -a sheet imposing plate, means for holding two adjacent edges of a substantially rectangular sheet imposed on said plate, so as to leave a free corner, and flexible devices for smoothing out said sheet movement of said marking means, and'movable gages applied Vto said way.

V17. In apparatus of the class described, the combination with a frame, a sheet" imposing plate supporting thereby, c duplex means for marking a rectangular sheet with intersecting lines at right angles to two of its adjacent edges, said frame having ways at right angles to the'lining movement'ot said marking means, and movable gages applied to said ways. f I

18. yIn apparatus of the class described, the ,combination of a frame, a sheet imposing plate supported thereby, means for marking a' rectangular sheet with lines at right .angles to one of its edges, said frame having a way at right angles tothe lining movement of, said marking means, movable gages applied to said way, and means for holding said sheet by said edge. f

,19. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a sheet imposing plate supported thereby, means forinarking a rectangular sheet with lines at right angles to one of .its edges, said Jframe having a groove at right angles to the lining movement of said marking means, and movable' gages applied to said groove, one wall of said groove and 4corresponding faces of said gages coacting with a tendency to set said gages for a denite position of said edge.-

20. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a frame, a sheet imposing plate supported thereby, means for mark-A ing a rectangular sheet with lines at right angles to one of its edges, said 'trame' having 'a groove at rightangles to the lining movement of said marking means, and movable gages applied to ysaid groove, one wall of said groove and corresponding faces of ysaid gages coacting with a tendency to set said gages for a deiinite position of said edge, and means for holding said sheet by said edge.

21. In'apparatus the combinationof a plate with a sheet imposing surface, a plurality of 1narkers,pmeans for,l carrying said markers and 'i for moving them substantially parallel with said surface and in straight lines, and flexible presser means -positioned in advance of said markers yand operating on substantially the entire width of a sheet to press on said sheet as said markers travel over its surface.

22. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a plate with a sheet irnposing sur-tace, `a plurality of markers, means of the class described, y

for carrying said markers and for moving them substantially parallel with said surface and in straight lines, and presser means positioned in advancel of said markers and operating' in inc-lined position relatively to a line Which passes through said markers on substantially the entire Width ot a. sheet to press on said sheet as said markers travel over its surface.

Q3. In apparatus of the class described, the combination .of means for supporting a marker arm, a marker arm `thereon provided with parallel grooves, a marker sliittable about said arm, and a locking device on said marker engageable with eit-her of said grooves.

24. In apparatus or' the class described, the combination of a marker arm provided with transverse nicks forming graduations, a marke-r having' a. collar whereby it ,is mounted on `and shiftable along said arm, said collar having its greater dimension diametrioally thereof, andthe marker proper being', and adapted to operate, in that plane oi" the greater, diametrical, dimension ot said collar which is at right .angles to said arm, and spring-actuated means onl said collar and in the plane of its said greater, diametrical, dimension, for engagement with any one of said nicks, whereby said marker may be set in a` definite position opposite any one of said nick-grladuations.

25. In apparat-us of the class described, the combination of a parallel grooved marker arm provided With transverse nicks forming graduations, a marker mounted on said arm, movable means on said marker for engagement with any one of said nicks, and a locking device for engaging one of said grooves.

26. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a marker arm, a marker mounted thereon and shiitable along said arm, mov-able means for securing said marker in position when so shifted, and movable means for holding` said marker aga-inst turning on said arm, said holding means being operable by said securing means.

27. In apparatus of .the Class described, the Combination of a marker arm, a mai-lier mounted thereon and extending in a plane at right angles thereto and having its marker-proper mounted in said plane, and located and operating entirely to .one side Copies of this patent may be obtained for five of said arm, and spring-actuated means on said marker and operating in a plane transversely of said arm and which is parallel with and closely approximates the plane ot' said marker-proper, for automatically clutching and iiXing said marker on said arm.

28. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a marker arm, a marker mounted thereon, and spring'- actuated means for clutching `and fixing said marker on said arm at different angular positions about said arm.

29. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a marker arm, a marker mounted thereon, and spring actuated means comprising a manually operated lever,

arranged transversely of said anni, for' :clutching and fixing said marker on said arm at diii'erent shifted positions along said arm, said lever being operable by a. movement toward said arm, in order to release said clutching means.

30. In apparatus ot the class described, the combination of means for holding an edge of a sheet to be lined, means for lining said so held sheet, and a` flexible pressing and smoothing device for operating on said sheet in advance of said lining means when lining it.

3l. In apparatus of the class described, the Combination of a marker arm, a` marker mounted thereon and shiftable along and about said arm, means for fiXedly securing said marker in one or more shifted positions longitudinally of said arm, and additional means for holding said marker at one or more points about said arm and for iXedly securing it at either of said points.

32. In apparatus of the class described, the combination of a marker arm, a. marker mounted thereon and shiftable along and about said arm, means for iiXedly securing' said marker in one or more shifted positions longitudinally of said arm, and additional means for holding said marker at one or more points about said arm and for fixedly securing it at either of said points, both of said securing means having clutch members which .intersect each other.

Signed at New Yor N. Y., this 28th day of February, 1918.

HARRY H. HANCOCK.

cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. il. 

